Introductory description

ES3D5-15 Water Engineering for Civil Engineers

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Open Channel Hydraulics

• Review of hydrostatics, pipe flow and Bernoulli equation
• Laminar and turbulent flow in open channels
• Laminar flow analysis
• Principles of uniform flow
• Development of friction equations - magnitude of friction coefficients
• Channels with distorted cross-sections & “Best form” cross-sections
• Development of energy concepts & specific energy
• Critical flow considerations
• Applications of the energy principle
• Measurement structures and dilution gauging
• Development of conservation of momentum principle
• Specific force considerations
• Analysis of hydraulic jump
• Gradually varied flow equation & classification of gradually varied flow profiles
• Methods for the calculation of gradually varied flow profiles
• Location of hydraulic jump
• Introduction to commercial numerical software

Engineering Hydrology

• The hydrological cycle
• Precipitation, initial losses, infiltration, percolation, evapotranspiration, surface runoff, groundwater flow
• Rainfall types and spatial variability of rainfall (UK)
• Rainfall. Intensity - duration - frequency (return period) analysis
• The Flood Estimation Handbook (FEH)
• Design storm rainfall. Uniform intensity and FEH rainfall profiles
• River flow analysis
• The unit hydrograph
• FEH techniques to estimate runoff from catchment characteristics; impacts of urbanisation
• Reservoir routing

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• explain the principles controlling open channel flows
• summarise the differences between flow types
• analyse free surface flow problems using friction, energy and momentum considerations
• predict rainfall and runoff characteristics for UK catchments

Indicative reading list

(1) Chadwick, A.J. & Morfett, J.C. Borthwick M. Hydraulics in Civil and Environmental Engineering (5th Edition) Spon 2013
(2) Chanson, H. The Hydraulics of Open Channel Flow Arnold (2nd Edition) 2004
(3) Douglas, J.F., Gasiorek, J.M., Swaffield, J.A. & Jack L., Fluid Mechanics (6th Edition) Wiley 2011
(4) Shaw E.M., Beven K.J., Chappell N.A. & Lamb R., Hydrology in Practice, Spon 2010

Subject specific skills

1. Ability to conceive, make and realise a component, product, system or process
2. Ability to develop economically viable and ethically sound sustainable solutions
3. Ability to be pragmatic, taking a systematic approach and the logical and practical steps necessary for, often complex, concepts to become reality
4. Ability to seek to achieve sustainable solutions to problems and have strategies for being creative and innovative
5. Ability to be risk, cost and value-conscious, and aware of their ethical, social, cultural, environmental, health and safety, and wider professional engineering responsibilities

Transferable skills

1. Numeracy: apply mathematical and computational methods to communicate parameters, model and optimize solutions
2. Apply problem solving skills, information retrieval, and the effective use of general IT facilities
3. Communicate (written and oral; to technical and non-technical audiences) and work with others
4. Exercise initiative and personal responsibility, including time management, which may be as a team member or leader
5. Awareness of the nature of business and enterprise in the creation of economic and social value
6. Overcome difficulties by employing skills, knowledge and understanding in a flexible manner
7. Ability to formulate and operate within appropriate codes of conduct, when faced with an ethical issue
8. Appreciation of the global dimensions of engineering, commerce and communication